How should Israel deal with the missile onslaught?

An army is a blunt weapon. Send it into a populated area where the enemy doesn't wear a uniform and innocents are going to die. This is happening right now in Gaza. Many people are quick to blame Israel for these deaths, calling them "unnecessary" or even "war crimes."

Lately, Israel has had to endure unguided missiles raining down on its territory. Since they are unguided, the people launching them, Hamas soldiers, aren't conducting surgical strikes. In fact, it appears they would be happy if they hit schools, hospitals, markets, and other heavily-populated targets.

So, imagine you are Israel. Do you have another way of attempting to put a stop to the daily barrage of missiles?

This is not an invitation to criticize the creation of Israel after WW2. It's not an invitation to criticize policies you think led up to Hamas.

I'm only asking what's the alternative to sending in its troops to attempt to drive Hamas out of Gaza?

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Hamas was elected by the people of Gaza to lead them and this is where Hamas has led them. The people of Gaza had a chance for a real and lasting peace, they chose Hamas instead, they have no one to blame but themselves.

Interesting. Three unidentified men, in broad daylight, under cover of a suspicious blue tent and in full view of a hotel housing international press, The rocketeers take their time setting up the rocket, appear to hide the rocket which is fired within moments.
This is inconsistent with what we know of Al-Qassam brigades, Their tactic involve a rapid deployment of the rockets and typically appear at a launch site,set up multiple launchers, fire off the the rockets and leave the area immediately.
Could this rocket launch be an event staged by Shin Bet or mista'aravim for the international media?

The IDF uses quadracopter surveillance drones that are rocket equipped to search for Qassam launch sites. The bright blue tent would certain;ly be spotted by one of these drones,but the men working under the tent seemed to take their time indicating they were unconcerned with being spotted by a drone or Israeli patrol.

YOU said Hamas will not let civilians get out of the way of Israeli attacks. How do you define hostage? Are the children complicit?

The Gazans made their bed and get to lay on it. Probably a lot of them wish they could take back their vote. The children are the responsibility of their parents, who made a bad choice.

Presumably, they voted Hamas in because they thought it'd be cool to fuck with Israel.

I just remember there being a presumption that since George W was elected by the American people (debatable, btw), ALL Americans must be in favor of the Bush Doctrine and in favor of an unprovoked war of aggression against Iraq. Also, considering the shenanigans that went down in the 2000 election here, I find it hard to believe an election in a place like Gaza could be strictly on the up and up.

Americans have had to live with the domestic results of the Bush doctrine, so what's your point?

At least some Gazan civilians are hostages. You said so earlier when it suited you. But now, fuck 'em, right? And their kids. And your presumption about Gazan civilians supporting Hamas is just as faulty as the presumption that all Americans supported W's policies.

My points? Sorry, I thought that was clear. 1) You changed positions when it suited you. 2) Your presumption is faulty.

How do you think Israel should proceed? What tactics would both (a) be effective and (b) protect their own troops?

As I've said elsewhere, your purpose in war is to win it. Nothing trumps that.

Rules of war is kind of an absurd notion, like rules for a bar fight: 1) no sucker punching, 2) no kicking in the nuts; 3) no using your friends to gang up on your opponent.

Israel is a democracy, so it has to answer to its electorate. While Hamas got itself voted in, it's basically a dictatorship and doesn't give a shit about its own people. They are just pawns to be killed so they can cry about the body count.

Israel's form of democracy is quite different from ours.It's governing body, the Knesset elects it leadership from within, not by a general election. Representation is based on partisan demographics instead of geographic demographics. This means that the larger a party is, the more representation it gets. Voters get to choose the party, not individual candidates,

Currently the Knesset represents 13 parties, 6 of the forming a right wing coalition, and the other 7 parties in opposition. The coalition has a 68 to 52 majority in the Knesset, dominated by the Likud party. Many of the original Likud party members were formerly Tikun and Lehi terrorists.

"As I've said elsewhere, your purpose in war is to win it. Nothing trumps that."

Written like a true fascist.

Winning anything requires an objective. The Likud party charter states as a major objective extending Israels borders to include Gaza and the west bank exclusively for Jewish people. Years ago, a Likud politician said "Kill them all and take their land" and others have stated an object of killing all the women and children to prevent future generations of resistance fighters from being born.